Swiss federal prosecutors have filed fraud charges against three former senior German football officials over a suspect payment linked to the 2006 World Cup hosted by Germany, the Swiss Attorney General’s office said on yesterday.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is eager to build his team around midfielder Paul Pogba despite media speculation linking the French World Cup winner with a move away from Old Trafford ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

South Africa all-rounder Chris Morris pleaded with fans at home to keep backing the team after a six-wicket loss to India on Wednesday saw the Proteas suffer a third defeat in as many matches at the World Cup.

Not even England’s most passionate supporters would suggest that winning this week’s Nations League Finals would compare with a World Cup triumph but after last year’s excitement, Gareth Southgate’s men are now eyeing football’s newest trophy.

The English weather will play a major role during the World Cup and teams from the Indian subcontinent stand to gain if hot and dry conditions prevail during the May 30-July 14 tournament, former captain Kevin Pietersen has said.

Australia will welcome back Steve Smith and David Warner with “open arms” when their international bans expire and their inclusion will boost the team’s chances of winning this year’s World Cup, former leg-spinner Shane Warne has said.

Ireland are “unbelievably frustrated” that a well prepared Six Nations campaign has not yielded the expected results, flyhalf Johnny Sexton said, as the team looks to rediscover top form in time for this year’s World Cup.